Manual Implementation & �Collection Management & Curation Course��Webinar 9�Collection storage and organisation�18 May 2022

Welcome and introduction

Fulufhelo Tambani

Science Communication Officer

Webinar guidelines for engagement

Keep your contributions helpful and considerate of the host and other participants

Chat box: Say hello! Let us know which institution you are from

​

Q&A box: Add questions during the webinar. We will be answering some of your questions live at the end of the webinar.

Due to time constraints we might not be able to answer all your questions during the webinar, however answers will be provided to all questions on the webinar link afterwards.

nscf.org.za/resources/collections-management/

​

FT

What the webinar covers

• The 10 agents of deterioration and dry collections
• Standards for storage (physical forces, temperature, humidity, fire, water)
• Pest management
• Summary of key standards for dry collections
• Focus is on the standards and not the processes – we will be looking at the “how to” in the Discussion Forum next week.

​

​

What are dry collections?

• Invertebrates –pinned insects, mollusc shells, some marine groups (corals, echinoderms)
• Vertebrates – skeletons and skulls, tortoise and turtles, bird and mammal skins, bird eggs, taxidermy mounts
• Plants – pressed and mounted plants, seeds, wood samples
• Fossils

Gunnar Creutz�Göteborgs Naturhistoriska Museum, Gothenburg, Sweden

Jonathan L. Dunnum

What are the main risks to dry collections?

Most of these agents of deterioration are related to storage!

Where they are stored, how they are stored

Physical forces

• Breakage of fragile collection objects can be reduced by correct storage.
• Lining / padding, containers - boxes, drawers, cabinets / shelving.
• Open and close drawers and cabinets gently

​

Physical forces

• Handling of dry specimens – studying them, cleaning, moving.
• Pinned insects – hold the shaft of the pin and never touch the insect with fingers.
• Herbarium sheets – remove the folder from the cabinet and work with it on a flat surface. Hold both edges of the sheet so that it never bends. Never lean on or put anything heavy on or write on top to herbarium sheets

​

Pollutants

• Pollutants – from the storage materials especially in wrong storage environments (temperature and humidity).
• Archival quality paper; lining / padding, drawers, cabinets and shelving should not release gases that will impact on the objects. Glues or any other materials used must be archival quality.
• Dust and dirt build up – also a type of pollutant. Hides important features, abrasive, attracts pests. No object should be left without some form of protective covering – sealed cabinets, drawers, boxes or by some other cover.
• Storerooms should be well sealed to prevent dust and dirt.

​

Storage environment

• Temperature – stable between 16 - 22°C.
• Too warm – skins release fats resulting in hair / feather loss. Also promotes pests. Temperature fluctuations – expansion and contraction of objects causes them to crack.

​

• Relative humidity – too dry = cracking or delamination of objects – shells, horn and bone, teeth; herbarium mounts and pinned insects can become very brittle.
• Too moist – mould that releases enzymes that break down organic matter, damage labels and paper mounts. Verdigris – copper and brass insect pins break down, react with fats in the insect causing growth of blue-green hair-like crystals. Wooden drawers that are damp release volatile organic compounds – react with objects and cause acidic crystalline growth that is corrosive (bird eggs and mollusc shells).
• Fluctuations in RH – swelling then contraction – objects split and break.
• Recommended RH – stable, moderate – 50% (variation 45-55%).
• Monitoring: Data loggers to record and monitor temperature and RH so that if there are fluctuations equipment can be checked.

Water

• Flooding caused by burst pipes, poorly maintained drainage systems or inappropriate building structure for collections (e.g. basements), inappropriate fire suppression systems (sprinklers) can cause cabinets, shelving and objects to become water logged.
• Important to do a proper risk assessment for flooding potential, make sure that mitigation actions are in place (clearing or storm water drains, repair of roof leaks).
• All cabinets to be raised at least 10cm off the ground. No objects to be stored directly at floor level or on the floor.
• Wooden cabinets and shelving, drawers swell when wet, release gases so metal is recommended.
• Disaster plan must be in place; salvage materials, training, service providers identified etc.

Light and UV

• Light causes fading of pigments in skins, mollusc shells, insects, herbarium objects.
• Also causes fading of text on labels (disassociation).
• Specimens must be kept in dark room or in closed cabinets if the room is not dark.

https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/

https://tassiedevilabroad.com/

Fire

• Dry materials are highly flammable.
• Fire detection systems, appropriate fire suppression systems (gas), fire doors. Regular checks and maintenance.
• Wooden cabinets, shelves – will burn so metal is recommended.
• No empty boxes, papers and other consumables stored in corridors or in the collection storeroom.

​

• Disaster plan in place, with steps identified, training, salvage materials available.

​

Disassociation

• When there is no link between a specimen and the information about it.
• Labels fade and become illegible; become separated from specimens.
• Identifiers can be difficult for small delicate skulls.

Pests

• Risks - highly likely (54% of collections have reported pest damage), impacts high on individual objects – high; potentially spread quickly across the entire collection.
• Pests damage and destroy pinned insects, skins, bones, herbarium specimens. Also damage storage materials – wooden structures, paper, boxes.

Pest damage in collections

https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/50599/how-to-protect-my-mounted-insect-specimens-from-insects; Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh.

Common pests in collections

• Carpet beetles, Cigarette beetles, Demestids, Case moths – larvae that cause damage

​

• https://www.whatseatingyourcollection.com/

​

​

​

Other pests

Where do pests come from?

• Bird nests on window ledges, in roofs – act as a source of pests.
• Material – specimens or packaging that comes in to the collection.
• Through windows, under doors.
• Warm temperatures, damp conditions – promote infestations, reproduction rates.
• Things people bring in to the building – food, bags, boxes …

Managing pests – the old way

• Historically, DDT, arsenic, mercuric chloride and others.
• Later Vapona (Dichlorvos), mothballs (Naphthalene), camphor were used.
• Currently – still some use of methyl bromide, Foggers (pyrethroid), Fumitabs (Deltamethrin)
• Remember that old collections will have residues of pesticides. If there are no accurate records of what was used in the past, handle with care!! (gloves).

​

• Recognised that fumigants have a negative impact on most types of specimens (alter the chemical composition of them).
• Insects develop resistance to fumigants / pesticides.
• Many fumigants are not fully effective for collections – they only kill active stages and not eggs or larvae – which may be in specimens. But they are useful for general building fumigation.
• Health risks.

​

Integrated Pest Management – the new way

Step 1: Prevent and avoid

• Prevent entry to storerooms by pests – well sealed windows and doors (may need a door sweep); no cracks in floors, walls or ceilings. Very well sealed drawers and cabinets kept closed.
• Avoid conditions that promote pests – clutter, dirt, damp, warmth, food, bird nests, overgrown vegetation on building.
• Good house-keeping – regular vacuuming with effective cleaners (HEPA filters), (never use feather dusters in storerooms).
• No carpets in storerooms; no live plants or animals; no packaging material; no field equipment in collection storeroom.
• Temperature and humidity control.
• All incoming materials must be treated before entering collection storage area.

​

IPM

Step 2: Monitoring

• Regular inspection of the collection to check for signs of pests (frass, cases, live adults or larvae) – quarterly. Must be very thorough – use a strong light, magnifying glass.
• Sticky traps – set out in correct locations; regularly checked and replaced when necessary.
• Identification of any pests found.
• Records of all monitoring results and infestations (including numbers of pests, location, identification).

​

IPM

Step 3: Take appropriate action if pests are found

• If an infestation has been identified in a particular drawer or cabinet only then the specimens in there can be treated.
• Freeze individual specimen or all those in the same drawer / cabinet. -18°C or lower (-40°C) – two weeks, or 3-5 days. Place specimens in plastic bag. May need to repeat at intervals to get all life stages. Care is needed for some fragile specimens – may not be appropriate for everything.
• Anoxic treatment – no oxygen for 21 days.
• If this is not possible, then fumigation may be necessary – recommended that this is by a professional service provider. Unsure what is being used currently - Sulphuryl fluoride seems to have replaced methyl bromide in agriculture. Use of gases – Nitrogen, CO2 or Argon require complete sealing.
• Monitor the specimen/s after treatment.

​

For IPM to work …

• There must be a documented plan, with activities / actions, roles and responsibilities, and a schedule of what needs to be done when.
• Plan must be implemented, and there must be documented records of everything that is found and done.
• Everyone who works in the collections – cleaners, researchers, technicians, collection managers must have some training in identifying pests and what to do if they are found (usually report to the person responsible for IPM).

Mould

• Caused by fungus – germination of air borne spores.
• Usually associated with damp conditions.
• Treatment – seal specimen in a polyethylene bag or enclose it in polyethylene sheeting to prevent the spread of spores to other objects. Do not touch the mould, as this will spread the spores.
• Remove the object to an isolated space where the RH can be lowered by running a dehumidifier and try to determine the cause and extent of the growth.
• Air drying at a temperature between 30°C and 40°C, freeze drying, exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight can treat mould – but do some research first.

​

Summary of standards for Dry collections

• Collection storeroom – sound structure with no damp or leaks, well sealed windows and doors, dark, fire detection and suppression systems and these tested, tested. No materials other than collection stored or housed in the collection storeroom. Clean.
• Climate control – RH 45-55%; temperature – 18-20°C; monitored using data loggers.
• Metal shelves, cabinets.
• Cabinets well sealed; specimens on shelves covered with dust sheets.
• Archival quality materials (paper, padding, boxes, glues, stainless steel insect pins); no specimens on floor or on bare shelves.
• Pest management system documented, includes roles, responsibilities, schedules, procedures; all staff trained in recognising and reporting pests.

Discussion Forum next week

• Any aspect of pest management – pest monitoring, pest control, preventing pests.
• Stories of pest outbreaks and how these were addressed.
• Dry collection storage – challenges, upgrades and ideals.
• 3-5 slides.

​

​

​

END

Thank you for attending our webinar...

Caring for Dry Collections

​

You are welcome to leave your comments/suggestions on the NSCF YouTube Channel or Facebook page

​

​